"The [changes invoce (sic)] 'freedom boxes,' those areas that we're allowed to open up from the road car," an engineering consultant for Ford's Le Mans program tells us. "That includes length of the diffuser, where it starts, and what you can do with the front underwing. All those rules have changed now. I'll be surprised if the Ferrari 488 rear doesn't look like that, too."

Basically, consider the Ford GT LM a preview of how GTE rear aero will look in the future. Results?

"We figure the cars will probably do 3 seconds a lap quicker around Sarthe, at least that's what our simulators say."

***While the world saw the first 2016 GTE-spec car with the unveiling of the Ford GT, Sportscar365 has learned that Ferrari’s new 488 GTE car is also already testing. All new-for-2016 GTE cars must take part in a Balance of Performance test in Ladaux, France in September.